Patents by Inventor Claudio Franco

Claudio Franco has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11844369
    Abstract: Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11491733
    Abstract: A method and a device for the ultrasonic welding of a first component to a second component of an electronic cigarette cartridge, wherein both components are made of a plastic material; the device includes an ultrasound generator, which delivers an electric pulse to a vibrating assembly, which, in turn, includes a converter designed to turn the electric pulse into a mechanical vibration movement and transfers it to a sonotrode, which directly transmits the energy in the form of vibrations to the two components to be welded; the sonotrode is designed so as to simultaneously weld a plurality of first components to the respective second components and cooperates with a plurality of striker elements, each associated to a respective first component and to a respective second component to be welded; and wherein each striker element is connected to a sensor, which is designed to detect a parameter of the welding process carried out to weld the first component to the second component and to control the welding proces
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 11220360
    Abstract: Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Publication number: 20210361026
    Abstract: The walking device has a shoe bottom (10) with a midsole (16). A soft heel part (20) is arranged in a recess (18) of the midsole (16) and the outsole (22) has a form that is rounded convexly in the walking direction. The reinforcing element (12), forming an insole, is arranged on the upper surface (44) of the midsole (16) and fastened to it. In the production of the walking device, the upper (14) is joined to the reinforcing element (12) to form a structural unit, which is then mounted on the midsole (16), for example by adhesive bonding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Markus BARTHOLET, Claudio FRANCO
  • Publication number: 20210276273
    Abstract: A method and a device for the ultrasonic welding of a first component to a second component of an electronic cigarette cartridge, wherein both components are made of a plastic material; the device includes an ultrasound generator, which delivers an electric pulse to a vibrating assembly, which, in turn, includes a converter designed to turn the electric pulse into a mechanical vibration movement and transfers it to a sonotrode, which directly transmits the energy in the form of vibrations to the two components to be welded; the sonotrode is designed so as to simultaneously weld a plurality of first components to the respective second components and cooperates with a plurality of striker elements, each associated to a respective first component and to a respective second component to be welded; and wherein each striker element is connected to a sensor, which is designed to detect a parameter of the welding process carried out to weld the first component to the second component and to control the welding proces
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 10946987
    Abstract: A machine to manufacture cartridges for electronic cigarettes comprising a casing made of plastic material inside which a quantity of powdered tobacco is contained; the machine is provided with a drum which receives an orderly mass of empty casings, and feeds them to a filling station in which a quantity of powdered tobacco is inserted into each empty casing and a filling unit which is arranged in correspondence to the filling station for feeding a quantity of powdered tobacco inside each empty casing from above; the filling unit is provided with a first hopper for the collection of powdered tobacco and a plurality of discs among which a first disc defining a bottom wall of the first hopper; wherein, between the first disc and a second disc a plurality of compartments is defined, each designed to contain the quantity of powdered tobacco to be inserted into a respective casing from above; and wherein the first disc and the second disc are mobile relative to one another, so as to vary the volume of the compartm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Stefano Negrini
  • Patent number: 10889394
    Abstract: A machine to manufacture cartridges for electronic cigarettes comprising a casing made of plastic material; the manufacturing machine comprises a drum rotating at a predetermined pitch around its own vertical rotation axis, which receives an orderly mass of empty casings from a feeding conveyor, in correspondence to a collecting station, and feeds them through a succession of processing stations; in which, the first drum is provided with a plurality of peripheral seats, each designed to receive a respective casing and which are divided into groups comprising the same number of seats arranged substantially in line so as to form, in plan view, a polygon on the surface of the first drum; in which the casings of the seats of a same group are simultaneously subjected to the processes in correspondence to the succession of processing stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Stefano Negrini
  • Patent number: 10856574
    Abstract: Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Publication number: 20190152627
    Abstract: A machine to manufacture cartridges for electronic cigarettes comprising a casing made of plastic material inside which a quantity of powdered tobacco is contained; the machine is provided with a drum which receives an orderly mass of empty casings, and feeds them to a filling station in which a quantity of powdered tobacco is inserted into each empty casing and a filling unit which is arranged in correspondence to the filling station for feeding a quantity of powdered tobacco inside each empty casing from above; the filling unit is provided with a first hopper for the collection of powdered tobacco and a plurality of discs among which a first disc defining a bottom wall of the first hopper; wherein, between the first disc and a second disc a plurality of compartments is defined, each designed to contain the quantity of powdered tobacco to be inserted into a respective casing from above; and wherein the first disc and the second disc are mobile relative to one another, so as to vary the volume of the compartm
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Stefano Negrini
  • Publication number: 20190075839
    Abstract: Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Publication number: 20190071198
    Abstract: A machine to manufacture cartridges for electronic cigarettes comprising a casing made of plastic material; the manufacturing machine comprises a drum rotating at a predetermined pitch around its own vertical rotation axis, which receives an orderly mass of empty casings from a feeding conveyor, in correspondence to a collecting station, and feeds them through a succession of processing stations; in which, the first drum is provided with a plurality of peripheral seats, each designed to receive a respective casing and which are divided into groups comprising the same number of seats arranged substantially in line so as to form, in plan view, a polygon on the surface of the first drum; in which the casings of the seats of a same group are simultaneously subjected to the processes in correspondence to the succession of processing stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Stefano Negrini
  • Patent number: 10194686
    Abstract: Unit for the attachment of mouthpieces to cigars having: a first belt conveyor provided with first pockets, which are designed to contain respective cigars, so as to feed the cigars along a straight attachment path; a second belt conveyor arranged parallel and next to the first belt conveyor and provided with second pockets, which are designed to contain respective mouthpieces, so as to feed the mouthpieces along the attachment path; and a coupling device provided with at least one pushing member, which is arranged along the attachment path in the area of an attachment station and is movable along an attachment direction that is perpendicular to the attachment path, so as to push a mouthpiece carried by a second pocket towards a corresponding cigar carried by a first pocket and then attach the mouthpiece to the cigar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Publication number: 20180303159
    Abstract: Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Publication number: 20180289057
    Abstract: Machine and method for producing a substantially cylindrical article, which comprises a tubular body, a container element, arranged in the area of one end of the tubular element, a heat generating element, partially housed inside the container element, and loose material for generating flavour; in use, the loose material is inserted into the container element, vertically oriented, and the heat generating element is partially inserted into the container element by being moved downwards, so as to obtain a combined element; subsequently, the combined element is at least partially inserted into the tubular body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Publication number: 20170231268
    Abstract: Unit for the attachment of mouthpieces to cigars having: a first belt conveyor provided with first pockets, which are designed to contain respective cigars, so as to feed the cigars along a straight attachment path; a second belt conveyor arranged parallel and next to the first belt conveyor and provided with second pockets, which are designed to contain respective mouthpieces, so as to feed the mouthpieces along the attachment path; and a coupling device provided with at least one pushing member, which is arranged along the attachment path in the area of an attachment station and is movable along an attachment direction that is perpendicular to the attachment path, so as to push a mouthpiece carried by a second pocket towards a corresponding cigar carried by a first pocket and then attach the mouthpiece to the cigar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti, Luca Federici
  • Patent number: 9561635
    Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material into respective housings of a third transfer conveyor; transferring the portions from the third transfer conveyor inside respective containment bags carried by a second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags from the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti
  • Patent number: 9434121
    Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material inside respective containment bags carried by the second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags from the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: G.D S.p.A.
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti
  • Patent number: 9289961
    Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material from the first transfer conveyor into respective housings of a third transfer conveyor; transferring the portions from the third transfer conveyor inside containment bags carried by a second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags from the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: G.D s.p.A.
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti
  • Patent number: 9221227
    Abstract: A method for producing bags containing fiber material, comprises the steps of forming at least one continuous layer of fiber material; separating in succession portions of fiber material from the continuous layer and moving them along a predetermined path; feeding each portion of fiber material to respective containment and compaction elements of a first transfer conveyor; feeding an ordered succession of bags containing respective portions of fiber material to respective supporting elements of a second transfer conveyor; transferring the portions of fiber material from the first transfer conveyor inside respective containment bags carried by the second transfer conveyor; transferring the containment bags housing respective portions of fiber material from the respective supporting elements of the second transfer conveyor to a fourth transfer conveyor; and moving in succession the bags housing respective portions of fiber material to a folding unit at which the bags are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: G.D S.P.A.
    Inventors: Fulvio Boldrini, Roberto Claudio Franco Ghiotti
  • Patent number: 9132109
    Abstract: A method for treating non-asthmatic bronchitis with a particular lysine acetylsalicylate is described. The lysine acetylsalicylate is delivered by nebulizer, preferably, to treat acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: MEDESTEA RESEARCH & PRODUCTION S.P.A.
    Inventors: Jose Sebastian Franzone, Sebastiano Bianco, Giuseppe Zuccari, Claudio Franco Omini